Do you think you have what it takes to ace IELTS? Find out here

International English Language Testing System, also known as IELTS, is required of all international students whose first language is not English before applying to study abroad. The IELTS test scores vary because it depends on the course and institution you are going to choose. Usually, a score band of 6 or above is enough for any undergraduate study, and a minimum of 6.5 is required for postgraduate courses. However, some courses need as high as eight as exceptions are always there.

Nowadays, students are a bit scared and uncertain when asked to take an IELTS test. They doubt their abilities for no obvious reason. Further, they believe that passing the IELTS exam is just not their cup of tea. As a result, some of them eventually enroll in further preparation lessons, sometimes bringing their nervousness into the test center and failing to concentrate. In some cases, they opt for an alternate exam such as ELICOS, which is far more expensive than the IELTS exam.

Students who lack confidence in themselves and are hesitant to believe they can pass the IELTS are often confused. It happens because of their lack of knowledge. Therefore, it is always better to be informative to be on the safer side. However, you should not worry because, in this blog, we will try to break some myths about the IELTS exam and understand it better.

Understand the IELTS test format

As most of you might know about the IELTS test format, but if you are unaware of the format, we are here to help. It's usually divided into three portions and is designed to assess your ability to comprehend the meaning of the text you're given to read. Please keep this in mind. You aren't there to memorize the text, so don't be concerned about its length, you only have to answer 40 questions, and for a person needing a score of 7, 30 correct answers are sufficient.

Practice

Yes, practice is very important. Try to read as much as you can in the days preceding up to your IELTS test. A smart place to start is with your favorite magazine. While reading, make an effort to discover the text's important themes and summarise them in your head. Always remember the more you practice, the more efficient your performance will be. The point of talking about practice is that it will increase your writing speed and lead you to have plenty of time, contrary to what others believe. Besides, you need to focus on your preparation and keep on practicing!

Skim the text quickly

Don't try to understand the logic behind every individual argument because you're simply there to understand the general meaning of the text. Instead, keep your focus on the goal, which is to obtain all the answers right because the best way to do this is to read the question first. Your brain will naturally try to locate the answers to the given questions if you read the questions once or twice and then start skimming the text. So, it's a practical and smart thing to do. If you are unfamiliar with this trick, then give it a try.

Time management

Time management is a must because you have to speed up your writing and divide proper time into each section. You have only 60 minutes to answer 40 questions, so think wisely. It is crucial to managing your time efficiently because if you do, then there will be chances of missing some questions. A single extra correct answer can probably help you get the desired result.

The time can be managed either by practicing a lot in advance or probably going with the flow. While practicing beforehand, you can set a timer in front of you to solve sample papers. Secondly, to live in the present moment on the test day means you must be very clear in your decision to approach the paper. Somehow, if you cannot find the answer to one question, then do not waste time on it; move to the second question.

If you have all these skills and feel confident by following all these tips, we think you are perfectly ready for your exam. So, prepare well and stay positive because, yes, you can, and you have what it takes to ace IELTS.

Author Bio: Abhyank Srinet is a passionate digital entrepreneur who holds a Masters in Management degree from ESCP Europe. He started his first company while he was still studying at ESCP, and managed to scale it up by 400% in just 2 years. 

Being a B-School Alumni, he recognized the need for a one-stop solution for B-School to get in touch with schools and get their application queries resolved. This prompted him to create MiM-Essay, a one-of-a-kind portal with cutting-edge profile evaluation and school selection algorithms, along with several avenues to stay informed about the latest B-School Updates.